Rontgen-ray apparatus



96% 1935. A; SCHNITZER 2,019,362

RONTGEN RAY APPARATUS Filed April 24, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l Ill/III Get. 29, 1935. A. SCHNITZER I 2&195625 .RfiNTGEN RAY APPARATUS Filed April 24, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Get. 29, 1935.

A. SCHNITZER R6NTGEN RAY APPARATUS Filed April 24, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 29, 1935. A. SCHNITZER RCNTGEN RAY APPARATUS Filed April 24, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1935. A. SC'HNITZER RONTGEN RAY APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 24, 1931 Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATS ArrN'r RoN'rGEN-RAY APPARATUS Application April 24, 1931, Serial No. 532,474 In Germany July 16, 1929 3 Claims.

. This invention relates to Rontgen-ray apparatus.

The invention and its aims and objects will be readily understood from the following descrip- & tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing the features of the invention in illustrative form, the true scope of the invention being more particularly set forth in the ap pended claims.

m In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in vertical section an illustrative embodiment of the unit comprising the transformer and Rontgen-ray tube housing;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partially in sec- 15 tion, of the bearing ring;

Fig. 3 shows the mounting of the unit on a wall bracket;

Fig. 4 shows the mounting of the unit on a column stand;

U 1 Fig. 5 shows the unit suspended in a ceiling bracket;

Fig. 6 shows the mounting of the unit on a stand to be placed upon a table; V.

Fig. '2 shows the mounting of the unit in a ll! .fo'rk carried by the column of a base support,

said fork forming in a sense a part of the unit;

Fig. 8 shows the mounting of the unit by means of the same fork in a wall bracket;

Fig; 9 shows the same unit and fork mounted upon an extensible column of a stand or support;

Fig, 10' shows a similar extensible support in combination with a unit, the transformer of which is housed in the foot of the supporting standard;

Fig. 11 shows a somewhat different combination of the unit with an extensible support;

Figs. 12 and 13 are a side and top plan View respectively of a Rontgen apparatus in which the unit comprising the transformer and Rontgen-ray'tube housing is carried upon a column support rising from a frame mounted on wheels.

Referring to Fig. 1 the high tension trans former 2 is lodged in a housing I forming a substantially cylindrical rotatable body, said high tension transformer consisting, as is well known, of an iron core forming a quadrangular frame having windings upon all four branches. At the top of the housing I is provided a hollow boss '3 containing the heat transformer 4, the second- 'ary coil 41) of which being contained in a sleeve 3w upon which is slipped the primary coil ta. enclosed in a metal covering 5.

From the secondary terminals of the high ten- --sion transformer 2 conductors 6 lead through ducts 8 of the housing I to exterior terminals 9. to which are connected the conductors ll! leading to the terminals of the R'cintgen-ray tube l2. In addition a conductor leads from one of the terminals of the heating transformer t, through 5 a duct 20 to the cathode of the Rtintgen-ray tube. Upon the reduced lower portion Id of the transformer housing i, there is mounted, from below, a funnel-shaped hood 53 upon the reduced tubular end 53a of which there is secured in an insulating tube id (the latter could be of metal). In the lower end of the latter there is secured the protective housing of the Romgen-ray tube l2, by means of a sleeve I511, I519, in such manner that the axis of said housing [5 is at right angles to the axis of the insulating tube It. The conductors I and it that pass through the sleeves [3a. and i5?) and the tube I4, within insulating tubes 33., are bent within the Rontgen tube protecting housing so as to run 20 along and parallel to the Rontgen-ray tube 12 to their terminals.

As all the high tension conductors are enclosed within the joint housing formed by the housings l and i5 and the connecting tube 14,25 nothing can come in contact with them, and furthermore as an extra precaution for safety said joint housing, in so far as it consists of metal, will preferably be grounded.

The housing i of the transformer is mounted 3 to turn about its axis on ball bearings l9 contained in a collar or ring it surrounding said housing, said ring being provided with diametrically opposed pivots or trunnions l8 journalled in the two ends of a fork ll having a supporting 3 spindle (Fig. 2) or arm Ila, said housing being thus free to swing or pendulate about the axis of said trunnions.

The middle portion 55a of the protector housing it for the Rontgen-ray tube is provided with 49 an annular slot H50 through which projects the focusing tube iza secured to the middle portion of the Rontgen-ray tube i2 and through which said rays are projected, said focusing tube being thus rotatable about the axis of the Riintgen-ray 45 tube.

Owing to its mobility in so many directions the device is adapted to a very wide range of applications.

Referring to Fig. 3, the arm lla, the fork ll 50 of which pivotally supports the ball bearing ring it of the housing, is mounted for vertical adjustment upon a vertical rod 2! having sockets secured to the floor on the one hand and to the wall on the other. 55

As shown in Fig. 4 the rod 2| is mounted upon a stand.

As shown in Fig. 5 the pendulous suspension of the bearing ring I6 is eiTected by means of a fork I! at the end of a spindle |1a adapted to telescope within a tube 22 carried by a ceiling bracket 23. Said spindle Ila has connected thereto cords 24 that pass over pulleys 25 and are connected at their other ends to a counter weight 26 surrounding the tube 22 and slidable thereon.

Fig. 6 illustrates how the apparatus can be mounted upon a stand 28 by means of a shaft 29 journalled in bearings 30 of said stand, said stand being adapted to be placed upon a table or any other suitable supporting surface. The shaft 29 is provided with a collar 3| which encircles the connecting tube M at a point between the transformer housing and the Rontgen-ray tube protective housing i5, immediately adjacent said transformer housing. In this case also provision may be made if necessary for rotation about the common axis of the transformer housing and the tube l4.

Referring to Fig. 7, the transformer and Rontgen-ray housing unit, provided with a handle II for convenient carrying thereof, is rotatably mounted in the fork H on the one hand by means of the tube l4, and on the other hand by means of a trunnion or pivot 33 having its axis coincident with that of said tube M. The fork has a spindle Ha having a rotary fit in the bore of the supporting column 2 I, so that the unit is also rotatable above the axis of said column 2|.

The Rontgen-ray tube housing |5 may be opened at the joint |5b by removal of the part |5a, to render the Rontgen-ray tube accessible. Plug contacts 34 serve to break the primary current of the transformer when said housing |5 is thus open, so as to avoid any danger of accident from the high tension current. A switch 35 is provided upon the housing portion |5a by which the apparatus may be adjusted as desired for radiography (position A) or radioscopy (D) as indicated by the index 35a. The switch is connected to cut-in or cut-out a resistance (not shown) to increase or decrease the current flowing through the transformer.

The column 2| of the support is in two parts, of which the upper part telescopes in the lower part. The upper part is provided with a rack 36 with which meshes a gear 3'! mounted on the lower part and operated by hand wheel 38. The column 2| is also provided with a vertically adjustable table 39. A cable 46, provided with a plug, extends from the transformer housing for connecting up with the network; also a second cable 4| having connected thereto a portable time switch 42.

Referring to Fig. 8, the spindle |'|a of the fork I1 is received in a horizontal arm 43 of a carriage 44 adjustable vertically upon a wall bracket 2|, said spindle resting upon a roll 45 upon which it is readily slidable, thus enabling the apparatus to be drawn out more or less.

Referring to Fig. 9, two pairs of rolls 46 are rotatably mounted within the hollow foot 2|a of the support, the column 2| of the unit extending between said pairs of rolls and being guided thereby for vertical movement. Within the hollow foot of the support 2|a, there is also a counter-weight 48 which slidably surrounds the column 2 I. A cord or other traction member 49 has its free ends secured to said weight and extends over the lower pair of rolls 46, said rolls being grooved for that purpose, and also over two rolls 5| rotatably mounted upon the lower end of said column 2|. The weight 48 is recessed as shown at 52, said recess receiving the lower guide rolls 46 and their axes 50, when said column 2| being lowered said weight is raised.

Referring to Fig. 10, the supporting column 2| forms the connecting tube between the transformer housing and the Rontgen-ray tube housing I5. The column 2| is bent horizontally at its upper portion to form a bracket 2|b which is bent down again vertically at 2|c, at the end thereof which supports the Rontgen-ray tube housing 5. The high tension transformer is secured to the lower end of the column 2| within :5

the box-like foot 2| (1 of the support. The counterweight 48 forms a ring, its opening having a sufficient diameter to give free passage therethrough to said transformer. The transformer rests upon a plate 53 to which one end of each 20 comprises a cast iron bed plate 2|d, a tube of hard paper 2 le having its lower end fitting within the central opening of said plate, and a head piece 2|f shaped to constitute a guiding sleeve. Within the head piece 2 1, there are provided an upper and a lower set of guiding rolls 46 for guiding the column 2| received between them. Within said head piece are also provided pulleys 41 over which pass cords 49, one end of each-cord being secured to a counter-weight 4! and their other ends to a plate 54 upon which the lower end of the column 2| rests. Said weight 41 is bored longitudinally to give free passage to said column 2|.

The sleeve 2| 1 with its rolls 46 and pulleys 41 is enclosed by a metal cap 2| 9 having a central opening for the passage of the column 2| which is freely rotatable upon the plate 54. The upper end of the column 2| carries a collar 55 which embraces the reduced or neck portion l4 of the transformer unit, So that said neck can turn therein, said collar being preferably adjacent the transformer housing The electrical unit comprising the transformer and Rontgen-ray housing is thus freely rotatable about its longitudinal axis within said collar 55.

Referring to Fig. 12, the unit comprising the transformer and Rontgen-ray tube housing is vertically guided upon four columns |2| which rise from the wheeled carriage. Said carriage comprises two longitudinal supports 56 and two cross rods 51 which serve as axles for the wheels 58 of the carriage. The longitudinal supports 56 and axles 51 carry a bed plate 59 secured thereto by arms 59a. The columns |2| connect a cap piece 6| with a base plate 60 which rests upon the bed plate 59 and is rotatable about a central boss 62 rising from the latter and engaging a. circular opening in said base plate 60. The four-column construction makes for greater stability with relatively slight weight.

A carriage 63 is slidingly guided by the columns 66 2|, and supporting tubes M, Ma project from said carriage in opposite directions. The transformer is carried at the free end of the supporting tube l4 and the Rontgen-ray tube housing l5 at the end of the supporting tube l4. A chain 64 70 freely through its central opening. Roll 65 is freely rotatable about its axle on the cap piece 6|, but roll 66 is rigidly secured upon a shaft 61 journalled in the base plate 60, saidshaft being rotatable by a worm gear 68, 69 or operated by a hand wheel 10, whereby said carriage 63 may be raised and lowered. By reason of the self-braking or locking characteristic of worm gears, said carriage 63 will remain in any vertical position to which it may be raised or lowered by operation of the hand wheel 10, so that said carriage requires no counter-weight. The shaft H is journalled in suitable bearings I2 carried by the base plate 60.

A converter 13 may be provided on the bed plate 59, as shown in Fig. 12, if desired.

At one end, the longitudinal supports 56 are formed as handles 14. At their opposite ends they are bored to form sockets 15 for the lower ends of the side members of a push handle 16 which extends upwardly to a height convenient for pushing the apparatus about, the lower ends of the side members of said push handle being bent to engage said sockets. Pins 15a extending through openings in the walls of said sockets and engaging openings provided in the free ends of said push handle serve removably to secure the push handles in said sockets. Two vertical sockets 11 are provided near the opposite ends of the side members 56 to receive the free ends of said push members 16 when said push handle is not in use or when the apparatus is to be carried. The push handle then occupies the dotted line position shown in Fig. 12. If left in its full-line position, Fig. 13, said push handle might interfere with the person carrying the apparatus at that end.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms than that herein" illustrated without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim: 5

Rontgen-ray tube housing; a single tube of small 15 cross-section rigidly connecting said housings and constituting the sole support for said Rontgenray tube housing; and an annular member having anti-friction means supporting said transformer housing for rotation about the axis of 20 said connecting tube, said Rontgen-ray tube being rotatable within the Rontgen-ray tube housing about an axis perpendicular to said connecting tube.

3. Rontgen-ray apparatus comprising, in com- 25 bination, a transformer and a Rontgen-ray tube; a housing for said transformer; an elongated housing for said Rontgen-ray tube spaced from and at right angles to the axis of said. transformer housing; a single tubular member of small 30 cross section rigidly connecting said housings coaxial with the transformer housing and providing a shield for a portion of the conductors connecting the transformer tothe Rontgen-ray tube; a bearing for the transformer housing supporting the whole unit for rotation about the axis of said tubular member; and means permitting swinging movement of the Rontgen-ray tube about an axis at right angles to the axis of said tubular member.

ALEXANDER SCHNITZER. 

